A Word from the President

Happy holidays to our Shareholders, Descendants and their families!

It’s fall in Alaska! No matter where we live, autumn gives us the chance to slow down, settle back into our routines and savor the smaller moments.

Every Alaska Native person with a living memory of the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) has a story to tell. To tell my story, I must go back in time long before ANCSA passed.

Along with many Alaskans, CIRI leadership has been closely monitoring the Alaska State Legislature and the governor’s work on the fiscal year 2020 budget.

Thank you to all of you who turned out for CIRI and The CIRI Foundation’s Friendship Potlatches this fall. While the potlatches gave us an opportunity to socialize and celebrate, this year’s event in Kenai took on a somber tone.

As the days become cooler and shorter, most of us start to prepare for winter. The chill in the air also means it’s time, once again, for CIRI and The CIRI Foundation’s annual Friendship Potlatches.

Many of you have read about CIRI’s recent decision to sell a company that we have proudly hailed as a hallmark of our portfolio for the past 20 years.

I’m always grateful when I have a chance to attend a meeting of the Tikahtnu Forum. I especially appreciate seeing so many individuals and organizations, from all over the Cook Inlet region, coming together to work toward improving the lives of Alaska Native people.

Happy new year! If you’re like me, you’ve been reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the new one.

CIRI and its employees also have an important role as responsible members of the community.

We must talk openly about the disproportionate rates of suicide among our people and work together to find solutions.

CIRI is acutely aware of the concerns facing our state, the nation and the world as we all face climate change. We have taken several measures and made significant investments to reduce our reliance on carbon emissions.

[smart-grid captions_color=”#666″ font_color=”#666″ title=”false”][smart-grid captions_color=”#666″ font_color=”#666″ lightbox=”swipebox” title=”false”] By Sophie Minich, CIRI president and chief executive officer [lightbox link=”http://www.ciri.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sophie-e1410539830964.jpg” thumb=”http://www.ciri.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sophie-e1410539823367-300×300.jpg” width=”300″ align=”left” title=”Sophie” frame=”true” icon=”image” …

In 1978, CIRI President Roy Huhndorf wrote the above words for the 1977 CIRI Annual Report. At the time, our company was only six years old, and for most of that time, CIRI headquarters had been located in the former meat locker…

By Sophie Minich, CIRI president and chief executive officer Every year, federal, state and local governments make decisions or pass laws that affect Alaska Native people. …

The CIRI Annual Meeting held earlier this month provided a fantastic opportunity to meet and talk with shareholders. I appreciate those who took time out of their busy summer schedule to attend the event, participate in the Board election and hear about the latest developments at CIRI.

By: Sophie Minich, CIRI president and chief executive officer It was great to be back in Kenai last month for the Kenai Shareholder Information Meeting. …

By: Sophie Minich, CIRI president and chief executive officer It was great to see so many of you at the first CIRI Open House in …

The unusually warm weather that settled over Anchorage this month has many of us thinking of spring—a time of renewal and growth. CIRI has done a lot of growing over the past year, and soon shareholders will have a chance to learn about the Company’s strides at our annual series of shareholder information meetings…

Next month marks an important anniversary in Alaska’s history. Fifty years ago, at 5:36 p.m. on March 27, 1964, men, women and children starting their dinners or otherwise going about their business felt the earth begin to shift beneath their feet.

As CIRI embarks on a new year, I’m excited about the prospects of building on the foundation of cooperation and collaboration that helped define 2013 for CIRI and its shareholders.

As we reflect upon 2013 and look forward to 2014, I am reminded of what a great year it has been. For me, personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as CIRI’s president and chief executive officer. Every day I am inspired and motivated by CIRI’s mission and am grateful for the terrific team of employees I have the privilege of leading.

The holiday season is upon us – a time to reflect on the many things in our lives we are fortunate to have such as family, close friendships and the time we spend together. I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well and with the opportunity to share the season together.

The CIRI Potlatch season is upon us and I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet with shareholders and their families in Kenai and Anchorage earlier this month. I also look forward to our meeting with shareholders when we gather in Puyallup, Wash. in November.

It is a privilege to deliver the news that, with the September dividend distribution, CIRI’s cumulative dividends paid to shareholders since the company’s inception will surpass the $1 billion mark. This is an accomplishment that we can all be proud of and it reinforces CIRI’s commitment to fulfill its mission statement to “promote the economic and social well-being and Alaska Native heritage of our shareholders.”

Wow! What a summer it has been here in Alaska – one of the brightest and warmest on record. It has been so rewarding to enjoy the long, sunny days that bring out the best of our beautiful region. As our Alaska shareholders can attest to after years of lukewarm summers – we deserve it!

Thank you for taking the time to catch up on the latest news and events at your corporation. Here in Alaska, it’s hard to believe the summer season is already halfway over. I hope yours has been filled with sunny days, friendly visits and fortunate fishing.

This is an exciting time of year for CIRI. It’s the time when we meet with shareholders at a series of meetings leading up to the Annual Meeting to discuss the company’s financial performance and business activities, and introduce the candidates running for the CIRI Board. We had good turnout at the meetings in Anchorage, Kenai and Seattle and it was encouraging to see the enthusiasm and to hear positive feedback from our shareholders.

If you haven’t received it already, CIRI’s 2012 annual report and proxy materials are in the mail. I encourage you to review the report that details CIRI’s financial performance in 2012. With great pleasure, I can report that CIRI had another good year in 2012 with solid financial results and strategic investments that will benefit shareholders for many years

Earlier this month I had the honor of participating in the signing ceremony to convey more than 200,000 acres of land to CIRI village corporations. This transaction, which you can read more about in this issue of the Raven’s Circle, is monumental for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it brings to a close the long process to finally convey the last of the major land entitlements to the CIRI villages and sets the stage for what I believe will be a new era of collaboration between the village corporations and CIRI.

It is a great honor and privilege to present my first president’s message since accepting the position following the retirement of Margie Brown. We are fortunate to have benefited from Margie’s strong, compassionate leadership and her commitment to our corporation. She will be a hard act to follow and we all miss her kindness and keen intellect.

AFN needs to evolve to better serve, unify

Changing the economic landscape

CIRI transitioning for continued success

Wind project draws from global resources, provides local benefits

Excerpts from the 2011 CIRI annual report president’s letter to shareholders

Accomplishments, smooth transition and bright future

An involved community is essential to student success

40 years of ANCSA

AFN evolving to unify, better serve

What should government do about energy?

ANCSA anniversary highlights need for Alaska Native Studies programs

CIRI Board election and a promising future

Alaskans need private energy investments, not state energy subsidies

2010 CIRI annual report president’s letter to shareholders (excerpts)

Let’s be careful about how we link ANCSA and SBA 8(a) business development program

Have Alaskans lost their can-do attitude?

Alaska must improve urban and rural education options

Challenging economy slows business, creates growth opportunities

Reform 8(a) rules to save and improve the program

Fire Island wind poised to help resolve energy shortage

Defense of capitalism

Good corporate citizenship requires sustainable business practices

Learning from mistakes provides great opportunity

ANCSA in action: Board elections, planning for the future

Leading by example

(Excerpts from Letter to Shareholders, CIRI 2009 Annual Report)

The importance of being counted

ANCSA creates opportunities while preserving values

Alaska Native students need new education answers

CIRI energy investments benefit current, future generations

Building strong Alaska Native corporation business partnerships

Obama Cabinet members tour Alaska

Alaska Native participation in Census matters

CIRI investments aim for long-term corporate growth

Alaska Native Heritage Center turns 10, still teaching…and learning

(Excerpts from Letter to Shareholders, CIRI 2008 Annual Report

The Cook Inlet Gas Wars

Tikahtnu Commons and Fire Island wind farm are shaping up, growing fast

Challenging economy is cause to be solemn, not paralyzed

Commemorating statehood and dealing with change

ANCSA creates sustainable business opportunities for Alaska by: Margie Brown, CIRI president and CEO We are fast approaching the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood that …

CIRI is optimistic about Alaska by Margie Brown, CIRI President and CEO The 35th Annual Meeting of CIRI shareholders took place on June 7 in …

Alaska needs both short-, long-term energy solutions Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin recently unveiled her short-term energy plan to help Alaskans deal with skyrocketing energy costs. …